Tourney raises funds for senior

A dodgeball benefit tournament at the Lansing High School gymnasium didn't feature the likes of Ben Stiller or Vince Vaughan, but it still drew an enthusiastic crowd of about 100 students.

"It's quality entertainment," sophomore Kara Ritchey said.

The crowd cheered and booed as high school boys, some shirtless and many wearing hand-decorated T-shirts, threw volleyballs and rubber balls at each other on Friday night.

The tournament was put on by the school's Kays Club to benefit LHS senior Jon Terrill, who is recovering from a March 26 auto accident that collapsed both his lungs. The tournament raised $220 toward Terrill's medical treatment.

Stefan Froelich, Lansing sophomore and club secretary, thought up and organized the event.

"It was originally for tsunami relief," Froelich said. "We decided this was more important because he's our own classmate, and we need to help him out."

Andrew Graham, junior and a member of the Taterballs team, said, "It's good that we're raising money for him."

It wasn't all about charity though; Graham said he also came "to beat the Cobras and Teamworld."

Eleven teams of six boys each played Friday night, in rapid games that lasted a few minutes each. The Cobras emerged as the champions after winning the playoff with the second-place team, the Hott Lunches.